Competing for Rose Festival princess didn't come naturally to Dulce Salgado. She had to be talked into it.

So the varsity soccer player looked a bit dazed when she was crowned Roosevelt High School's 2008 Rose Festival princess at a school assembly Thursday afternoon.

After the cheering died down, she cradled a bouquet of roses in her arms as she thanked her friends and teachers for urging her to apply for the honor.

"I actually never pictured myself doing this," she said. "My friends and my teachers encouraged me, and I thought, 'Why not?' Life is about trying new things and taking new challenges."

Salgado, 18, is the daughter of Rosa and Obdulio Salgado. Her siblings, Jose and Maribel, attend Benson High, and her brother Joshua attends George Middle School. Salgado plans to attend Portland Community College and then a four-year university to study medicine. She wants to be a doctor.

Seven young women competed for Rose Festival princess from Roosevelt -- a change from last year, when only one sought the title. Staffer Rich Recker was among those this year who recruited candidates.

The school held an assembly last month and invited guest speakers to talk to the school's mostly low-income girls about the skills they need to succeed. Then, Recker said, he told the candidates to stick with their commitment to try for the title. One thing all of the finalists had in common: They would be the first in their families to attend college.

Salgado, he said, is similar to a lot of students at Roosevelt: "They probably need a lot more encouragement, a lot more love, a lot more support."

"She kind of sneaks up on you," he said. "She does put up that front -- 'I'm not very good.' But when she makes that commitment, she shines and does a really good job."

The next princess will be crowned today at Parkrose High School. The Queen of Rosaria will be crowned June 7 before the Grand Floral Parade. 